stevenson



(No Modei.)

1); M. STEVENSON. Table'Desk.

No. 239,404. Patented March 29,1881].

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DONALD M. STEVENSON, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES F. HESSER, OF SAME PLACE.

. TABLE-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 239,404, dated March 29', 1881. Application filed April 29, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DONALD, M. STEVENSON,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Oincinnati, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Table-Desks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a class of desks usually denominated table'desks, in which the advantages and structure of a desk and table are combined; and it consists in a tabledesk having a substantially continuous horizontal top divided transversely into two portions, the rear portion being also the top of a cabinet for papers,rigidly secured upon a supporting-slab sustained by the table-legs or other support, the other or front portion being sustained above and from the supporting-slab upon pivoted supports, allowing it to be depressed in front of the cabinet to form a writing-tablet, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved table-desk opened for use. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same closed; and Fig. 3is a vertical section of the top portion, showing the mechanism connecting both portions.

Similar letters indicate similar parts thro u ghout the drawings.

A in the drawings indicates the top of my improved table-desk, of which the part a. constitutes a writing-tablet separable from the part a, which is the top of a cabinet, B, containin g pigeon-holes for paper, &c. The two top portions of the table-desk are'divided in a plane forming an angle of about forty-five degrees with the top surface, which surface, when the parts are closed togethenis continuous throughout. The sides b of the cabinet are prolonged at b continuously under and around the tablet c, the whole having the appearance, when closed together, of an ordinary parlor-table having a box-top a few inches in depth.

Secured to the bottom of the cabinet portion B, and extending horizontally forward under the front portion of the table, is a supporting slab, O, to which the legs or other support of the tableare secured.

The forward portion, 0b, of the table is mounted upon parallel supports D D, bot-h hinged to the under side of the part'c and to the bottom of the cabinet and the forward end of the supportin slab C, respectively, so that when the forward part, A, of the tableis drawn forward the pivoted supports D D retain their parallelism and the top descends to the plane of the bottom ofthe cabinet, with which it then forms a contact-joint and rests upon the forward projection of the supporting-slab G. In this position, as shown in Fig. 1, the case of pigeon-holes is relatively elevated, and forms a convenient receptacle for paper, 850., in relation to the writing-slab. The pivoted support D is preferably a board extending the width of the table, and hinged above and below at two points, near its extremities. By this means all lateral oscillation of the part a is prevented, and the board also forms an inclosing-front for the cabinet when the parts are closed together.

In order to economize space and material, the top of the supporting-slab O is recessed, as shown at r, into which recess the pivoted support D descends when the parts are open. A projecting tongue, if, from the bottom of the support 0 furnishes a place for attaching a spring-catch, c, to secure the front wall, b, for holding the table-desk closed.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent-- 1. A table-desk having a substantially continuous horizontal top divided transversely into two portions, the rear portion being also the top of a cabinet for papers, rigidly secured upon a supporting-slab sustained by the tablelegs or other support, the other or front portion being sustained above and from the supporting-slab upon pivoted supports, allowing it to be depressed in front of the cabinet to form a writing-table, substantially'as described.

2. In a table-desk, the eombination,with the stationary cabinet or part B, attached to the supporting-slab O, of the tablet to and the pivoted supportsD D, sustaining said tablet above the supporting-slab and permitting it to be depressed in front of the cabinet or part B to form a writing-table, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DONALD M. STEVENSON.

Witnesses:

J. A. RUTHERFORD, JAMES M. WRIGHT, Jr. 

